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<p data-start="0" data-end="321"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Kerala High Court has called for the creation of a Special Investigation Team to probe allegations of illegal surrogacy and egg donation rackets operating under the cover of fertility services. The direction came after troubling information surfaced during the hearing of a petition filed by an ART bank in the State.</span></p>
<p data-start="323" data-end="626"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A division bench instructed government lawyers to consult the State police chief and present a response at the next hearing. The judges said a dedicated team was essential to uncover the scale of the alleged network and understand how such activities were being carried out across multiple institutions.</span></p>
<p data-start="628" data-end="1026"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The petition reached the Court after the ART bank complained that women who had come for routine medical screening were taken away by police and health officials and later housed in a government-run shelter home in Ernakulam. During the hearing, the Court was informed of several alarming incidents that pointed to a broader pattern of unlawful practices linked to fertility and surrogacy services.</span></p>
<p data-start="1028" data-end="1501"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">A preliminary police report submitted in court outlined early indications of organised illegal activity, including online advertisements offering financial incentives for egg donation and recruitment for surrogacy. Investigators said these schemes appeared to be part of a larger, coordinated operation. Police noted that their inquiry had been put on hold while awaiting judicial direction, but the High Court clarified that authorities were free to proceed without delay.</span></p>
<p data-start="1503" data-end="1922"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is not the first time the Court has raised concerns about violations within the fertility sector. In an earlier hearing, it observed that both individuals and institutions were ignoring regulations intended to govern assisted reproductive technologies and surrogacy. The judges stressed that many women were unaware of the risks involved, while others were being lured by money, leading to widespread exploitation.</span></p>
<p data-start="1924" data-end="2271"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Court described the situation as a serious policy failure and instructed the State government to ensure that essential guidelines under the relevant regulatory laws are permanently displayed in all fertility clinics, ART banks, surrogacy centres and hospitals across Kerala, in both English and Malayalam, to increase awareness and compliance.</span></p>
<p data-start="2273" data-end="2559" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The State&rsquo;s response on setting up the Special Investigation Team is expected at the next hearing. The case has cast a spotlight on the largely concealed world of unregulated fertility practices and highlighted the urgent need for stronger oversight and protection for vulnerable women.</span></p>
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Kerala HC Seeks SIT Probe Into Surrogacy Racket

Court urges a thorough investigation into alleged illegal egg donation and surrogacy

Kerala HC Seeks SIT Probe Into Surrogacy Racket

Court urges a thorough investigation into alleged illegal egg donation and surrogacy

December 8, 2025 | 23:09 IST